‘100 Women Initiative’: Govt calls for enhanced participation

New Delhi: The Women and Child Development Ministry has called for increased participation from people in its ‘100 Women Initiative’ to recognise women achievers from different walks of life.

Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi

The ‘100 Women Initiative’, launched on July 15 in collaboration with Facebook, is a contest to select women achievers from across the country, particularly grassroots level, who are contributing to the society through public nominations via social media.

The contest has so far attracted around 400 nominations. “A nomination can be submitted by anyone across the world but nominees must be Indian women above 18 years of age.

Voting will begin on November 7. Winners will be announced in December, 2015 and they will be invited to join a reception organised by the Ministry around the Republic Day in January, 2016,” the official said.

The nomination should contain a photo or a video pertaining to the area of work done by the nominee, elaborating why she should be recognised and honoured.

“Indians across the country get inspired by positive and inspirational stories and ‘like’ and ‘share’ them widely.

Often, positive stories go ‘viral’. However, this is their chance to go beyond liking and sharing such stories and ‘Act’ on them,” a senior ministry official said.

Realising the vast reach of social media through use of Internet and mobile telephones, the official said, the government decided to reach out to its citizens directly through this initiative in collaboration with Facebook.

“Social media has become an integral part of our day to day life and is widely used to share ideas, disseminate information, advocate and connect people from different corners of the world,” he said.

“They can nominate women achievers who are unsung to thank them and tell them they matter to the nation.

Nominations can be submitted till 30 September only through the Facebook,” he said.